Pornography Splits Men's Consciousness

Pornography affects us because sex is as much “in the head” as it is in the body. Pornography gives pleasure only because arousal can be triggered by imagination. But pornography not only arouses, it tutors our imagination. What we repeatedly imagine shapes how we perceive ourselves and others. Philosopher Harry Brod gives good reason for concluding that pornography is a lousy tutor—especially for men.

Mirror Mirror by antkriz

Harry Brod is concerned with how pornography shapes male expectations. He observes that in pornography men are routinely depicted as “sexual acrobats endowed with oversized and overused organs” (see Pornography and the Alienation of Male Sexuality.” Women in pornography are depicted as perpetually available and eager for sex. Pornography tutors men to have expectations that real women do not meet. Because real women are far more complicated than the eager women depicted in pornography, women fall short of the expectations created by pornography. Real sex can disappoint. One “solution” to disappointment is resort to fantasying about pornographic images during sex rather than focusing on their real-life partner.

But Brod is at least as concerned about pornography’s contributes to male performance anxiety. This performance anxiety creates “bifurcated consciousness.” Sex should be engrossing, but pornography encourages men to rate their performance during sex. And “How am I doing?” is a distancing and distracting question. As Brod observes, “Relating to one’s body as a performance machine produces a split consciousness wherein part of one’s attention is watching the machine, looking for flaws in its performance, even while one is supposedly immersed in the midst of sensual pleasure. This produces a self-distancing self-consciousness which mechanizes sex and reduces pleasure.”

Ian Cook echo’s this concern in an article in the Journal of Men’s Studies. [“Western Heterosexual Masculinity, Anxiety, and Web Porn.”Proquest search.] Cook gives evidence that not a few internet porn sites “appear to intensify [male anxiety about sexual performance] by making it harder for men to prove that they are truly ‘man enough.’” Some men would rather avoid anxiety by replacing real sex with fantasy sex (See "Not Tonight Honey, I'm Logging In").

Brod’s points about the effect of pornography on what is “in the head” of male consumers raise both self-interested and ethical concerns. A man who allows his sexual consciousness to be shaped by pornography may be shortchanging himself and his sexual partner. Being fully present within one’s sexuality during sex is an important aspect of being human. To undermine this capacity in one’s self fails to respect one’s own humanity. One also owes it to one’s sexual partner to be fully present to him or her during sexual intercourse. To have undermined one’s capacity to be fully present is disrespectful to one’s partner.

You want to talk about male sexuality as it pertains to pornography?
Sorry, you gotta be male. You can profess and protest all you want; you gotta be male. The reason is that when it comes to male sexuality, all women have an agenda. And that agenda is they want us to do what they want us to do. They don't care what we want. There is a very small subset of women who do get us and our sexuality, and those are the wives whose husbands will never cheat on them. Why would they have to? Think about it. Just what most women don't want to hear.

also, from the article, "Harry Brod is concerned with how pornography shapes male expectations. He observes that in pornography men are routinely depicted as “sexual acrobats endowed with oversized and overused organs” "

I am sure Mr. Brod would be insulted that you don't think he is a male.

It's very simple, most men like sex. This whole idea of porn 'splitting consciousness' is claptrap.

For the majority of men it's very simple. The problem isn't 'the porn' the problem is the woman or something in terms of their (mens) health (depression, stress, etc). Women prefer to live in their own fantasy land rather then accept the reality of men's sex drive.

i don't think i fail to meet the "typical" male's sexual expectations (at least, those fantasies based upon pornography). nevertheless, despite this article's expectations, my fiance and i don't have an "ideal" sex life. why? because my fiance-to-be is less than eager. he's not gay, he just isn't your typical male. this article's theoretical basis fails to account for people like my honey. that being said, i do think that when one gets focused on one's performance, regardless of the arena, this increases self-consciousness and anxiety...which decreases success! point is, anytime you are caught up in your "head," you are failing to be fully absorbed in the moment, and missing out on what is there. by worrying, or over-thinking, you are no longer "in the moment," and this is a recipe for FAILURE.

So Caroline, if not for this sneaky, pernicious, esoteric little 'splitting', you'd have no problem with the typical fact that men's sexuality has them enjoying women through various means including pornography (defined as "you'll know it when you see it")? Or might there come yet another arcane evil that we need to be informed about. BTW, we're all really impressed way down here, I'll have you know -- now that you've enlightened us about being "bifurcated." Thanks for that. ;)

Dr. Simon. As an educator and a therapist in rehabilitation after pornography has destroyed lives, I can attest that everything you say here is valid and scientifically substantial. Men's issues in this culture are numerous and complex. But if there is one thing I have found to be fundamental to most of them, it is the internal schism which porn not only allows but necessitates. It would appear that you are being pestered by trolls. Do not be worried. They are small, unattractive, and live beneath bridges. Job well done.

I echo NickBro's words. There is a mechanism in pornography, along with other mass marketing forms of objectifying women, that triggers a switch in the brain. This can be maintained at healthy levels, depending on the type of material viewed, or it can become obsessive.

Why doesn't this affect women as much as men? Women are too busy! A high level of pornographic involvement does give rise to unrealistic expectations of body type, availability and respect, and compromises self-worth for both men and women. The pornographic market accounts for a huge and growing proportion of traffic on the internet today. Going viral?

My ex-husband was a porn addict and nothing I could ever say or do could convince him he was good enough or big enough. Re-assuring him sexually was an unwinnable battle. If he could've just relaxed, instead of trying to perform and be the best porn actor around, we could've had fun. Instead, he kept trying to be an acrobat and I was just a piece of furniture he acted upon. I know this from previous experience with a non-porn addicted man who was able to go with the flow and relax. The sex was playful, fun and intimate. And he had an issue (unrelated to size) that I won't name, that could've made other men insecure. It never crossed his mind to be insecure about it, it didn't bother me, and we had a great sex life. Granted, this is only one woman's experience, but I would take the relaxed, playful non-porn addict over a hyper-performing porn-addict any day.

Unlike most of my video-surfing man-friends, i've always preferred reading about it. The videos just seem too fake, i prefer to let my imagination run wild. I wonder if i'm getting similar problems?

By the way, good article, i completely get what you're saying. And let's be honest men, we can't accuse women of not being fair judges. After all, it's not like we don't get something out of the viewing, if you know what i mean ;) ;)

The "authority" you interviewed, Professor Harry Brod, is a feminist and misandrist. This means that he is male-hating. You must read the critique of pornography he makes against this background. Also important is that he does not separate the discussion from the perspective of natural science from claims from perspective of a moralist. The journal cited and the article from 2006 mentioned is one of the interviewee's regular outlets, a organ of the American Men's Studies Association, a national organization of about 250 members (national) that meets to further feminist causes with the help of token women.